Montgomery County Military Award Recipients

NOTE: This may not be a complete list.

MEDAL OF HONOR

Civil War

ZACHARIAH C. NEAHR

Birth: December 9, 1830, Palatine, New York
Date of death: July 21, 1903, buried at Canajoharie, New York
Entered Service at: Canajoharie, New York
Date of Issue: September 11, 1890
Rank: Private, U.S. Army
Unit: Company K, 142d New York Infantry

Citation: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private Zachariah C. Neahr, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 16 January 1865, while serving with Company K, 142d New York Infantry, in action at Fort Fisher, North Carolina. Private Neahr voluntarily advanced with the head of the column and cut down the palisading.

SHUBERT, FRANK

Birth: Germany
Entered Service at: Canajoharie
Rank: Sergeant, U. S. Army
Unit: Company E, 43d New York Infantry.
Place and Date: At Petersburg, Va., 2 April 1865.
Date of Issue: 10 May 1865.

Citation: Capture of two markers.

SICKLES, WILLIAM H.

Birth: Danube, N.Y.
Entered Service At: Columbia County, Wis.
Rank: Sergeant, U.S. Army
Unit: Company B, 7th Wisconsin Infantry.
Place and Date: At Gravelly Run, Va., 31 March 1865.

Citation: With a comrade, attempted capture of a stand of Confederate colors and detachment of 9 Confederates, actually taking prisoner 3 members of the detachment, dispersing the remainder, and recapturing a Union officer who was a prisoner in hands of the detachment.

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

World War I

CHRISTMAN, CLARENCE R.

Birth: Amsterdam, NY
Entered Service at: New York, NY
Rank: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army
Unit: 2d Machine-Gun Battalion, 1st Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: July 22, 1918
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Clarence R. Christman, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Soissons, France, July 22, 1918. By leading one of his machine guns in advance of the Infantry through a wheat field south of Soissons, Second Lieutenant Christman succeeded in obtaining a position of advantage from which he cleaned out an enemy trench and forced out of action a hostile machine gun which had been holding up the advance of our infantry.

EASTERBROOK, ARTHUR EDMUND (First Award)

Birth: 11/4/1893 - Amsterdam, NY
Entered Service at: Fort Flagler, WA
Other Award: Distinguished Service Cross w/OLC (WWI)
Notes: an "Ace" pilot
Rank: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army (Air Service)
Unit: Observer, 1st Aero Squadron, Air Service, A.E.F.
Date of Action: September 12, 1918
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Arthur Edmund Easterbrook, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near St. Mihiel, France, September 12, 1918. Because of intense aerial activity on the opening day of the St. Mihiel offensive, Lieutenant Easterbrook, observer, and Second Lieutenant Ralph E. De Castro, pilot, volunteered to fly over the enemy's lines on a photographic mission without the usual protection of accompanying planes. Notwithstanding the low-hanging clouds, which necessitated operation at an altitude of only 400 meters, they penetrated 4 kilometers beyond the German lines. Attacked by four enemy machines, they fought off their foes, completed their photographic mission, and returned safely.

EASTERBROOK, ARTHUR EDMUND (Second Award)

Birth: 11/4/1893 - Amsterdam, NY
Entered Service at: Fort Flagler, WA
Other Award: Distinguished Service Cross (WWI)
Rank: First Lieutenant, U.S. Army (Air Service)
Unit: Observer, 1st Aero Squadron, Air Service, A.E.F.
Date of Action: October 8, 1918
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Arthur Edmund Easterbrook, First Lieutenant (Air Service), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Exermont and Varennes, France, October 8, 1918. Lieutenant Easterbrook, with Lieutenant Erwin, pilot, successfully carried out a mission of locating our Infantry, despite five encounters with enemy planes. During these encounters he broke up a formation of three planes, sending one down out of control; killed or wounded an observer in an encounter with another formation; and sent a biplane crashing to the ground, besides driving away a formation of two planes and several single machines.

FRASIER, LYMAN S.

Entered Service at: Amsterdam, NY
Rank: Major, U.S. Army
Unit: 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: October 7, 1918
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Lyman S. Frasier, Major, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France, October 7, 1918. While conducting a flanking movement to reduce the enemy defenses on Hill 272, at the head of his two assaulting companies, Major Frasier met a battalion of enemy, formed for counterattack against our advanced positions, in the Bois-de-Money. Disposing of his force with excellent judgment, Major Frasier himself conducted an assault that routed the enemy, driving him from the field in complete disorganization. Later in the action, when wounded, he refused to relinquish command, and continued to direct the operations of his battalion until he had placed his troops on their final objective.

PUTMAN, HARRY P.

Entered Service at: Fort Johnson, New York
Rank: Private, U.S. Army
Unit: Company H, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: September 30, 1918
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Harry P. Putman, Private, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Ronssoy, France, September 30, 1918. Private Putman exhibited exceptional bravery in voluntarily leaving shelter, going forward under heavy shell and machine-gun fire and bringing back to our lines several wounded comrades.

QUIRI, ROBERT (KIA)

Born: Amsterdam, NY
Entered Service at: Syracuse, NY
Rank: Sergeant, U.S. Army
Unit: Company F, 310th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: September 18, 1918
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Robert Quiri, Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Thiaucourt, France, September 18, 1918. Leading a patrol under heavy fire, Sergeant Quiri was able to protect an unprotected portion of his line until the next unit could take it over. He was at all times an inspiration to his men, continually exposing himself to danger, while assuring their safety and comfort. After having his legs blown off and receiving other wounds, he gave all necessary information to his successor, before allowing himself to be carried away. He died soon after reaching the dressing station.

SLYKE, ALFRED GEORGE (KIA)

Born: at Amsterdam, New York
Entered Service at: Amsterdam, New York
Other Award: Navy Cross (Same Action)
Rank: Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: 77th Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F.
Date of Action: November 4, 1918
Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Alfred George Slyke, Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 77th Company, 6th Machine-Gun Battalion, 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near Blanc Mont, France, November 4, 1918. When the Germans attacked Sergeant Slyke's machine-gun detachment at close range, ammunition was dropped between the gun and the enemy. Although the enemy was bombing the gun position with hand grenades, Sergeant Slyke went forward and secured the ammunition and then opened fire and routed the enemy, who had already injured three of his crew with grenades.

World War II

BUJNOWSKI, FRANK B. (KIA)

Entered Service at: Amsterdam, New York
Died: April 8, 1945
Rank: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army
Unit: Company A, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division
Date of Action: April 8, 1945
Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Frank B. Bujnowski (32252715), Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, 398th Infantry Regiment, 100th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 8 April 1945, in the vicinity of Odheim, Germany. Technical Sergeant Bujnowski's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 100th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

DILELLO, LEWIS S. (KIA)

Entered Service at: Montgomery County, New York
Rank: Second Lieutenant, Army
Unit: Company G, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division
Action Date: 4-Oct-44
Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Lewis S. Dilello (0-1326046), Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company G, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 4 October 1944. Second Lieutenant Dilello's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty at the cost of his life, exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.

MARNELL, RICHARD L.

Entered Service at: Amsterdam, New York
Rank: Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army
Unit: Company E, 2d Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division
Date of Action: 15-Nov-44
Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Richard L. Marnell, Technical Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division, in action against enemy forces on 15 November 1944. Technical Sergeant Marnell's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 5th Infantry Division, and the United States Army.